2022 is coming to an end, but it feels like just yesterday we were hyping up our most anticipated games, most of which are now in the rearview mirror. While 2023 is sure to bring even more amazing experiences, we can’t continue before looking back at what shaped last year in the gaming arena. From in-game clothing styles to virtual sports worlds, let’s go back in time to the year 2022.
2022, the year that makes cats man’s best friend
Cats are no strangers to video games, whether they’re cuddling our consoles for warmth or exploring the game’s post-apocalyptic landscape. This year saw cats take center stage in various titles, such as Annapurna and BlueTwelve’s Stray, a game about a cat tasked with saving the world from a parasite. eat material. The cat-led feature The Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series has also been released. The much-anticipated collection of remastered 2.5D side-scrolling classics has reintroduced the world with its famously brave protagonist.
Of course, cats are as beloved as Sonic Frontiers, Ghostwire Tokyo, and even Persona 5 Royal. And who could forget everyone’s favorite cult sales cat, Forneus from Cult of Lamb? Each of these titles gives the player a cat companion to help along the hero’s journey, or gives the player full control over a kitten looking to save the world. Whether it’s Big the Cat helping Sonic learn how to fish, Morgana teaching the Joker the Phantom Thief’s way, or Ghostwire’s Nekomata doing side quests, it seems the cat has become mankind’s new and, at times, best friend. will be our savior. .
2022, the year that gives everyone a chance to have fun
The push towards inclusivity and accessibility has been seen strongly this year. Games like God of War: Ragnarök and The Last of Us Part I include extras for Santa Monica and Naughty Dog’s previous achievements in the field. Options such as audio cues, cinematic sound descriptions, automatic backgrounds, navigation aids, high contrast modes, etc. appear in these titles. Horizon Forbidden West also gives players access to unique difficulty-changing features such as automatically letting protagonist Aloy sprint, heal, or deploy her trusty Shieldwing. Adjustable settings like these help expand the game to a wider audience than ever before giving more players the chance to experience some of this year’s most immersive adventures.
2022, the year that pushes sports beyond reality
Windjammers 2 brought rigor and otherworldly style to the world of virtual sports when it was released in January. In this surreal frisbee, players are unleashed with superhuman abilities, fascinating obstacles, and exotic locations in a 1-on-1 sport where reaction, intelligence, and wits are tested. intelligence and coordination.
This release ushers in a fantastic series of extreme sports titles that can only exist in virtual worlds: OlliOlli World, an animated 2D skateboarding game that takes place in a world that appears to have been created by a god who loves skating; Cursed to Golf, a rogue-style golf game set in purgatory that pits you against death itself; and Rollerdrome, a gory sport that tasks you with skating tricks while fighting off cyborg enemies. If you ever thought sport was limited by reality, 2022 is your year.
2022, the year we changed our battle royale arsenal
The unshakable popularity of the battle royale genre continues, but with some new twists. Not only did the quirky Fall Guys launch on PlayStation 5, but other games have joined the fray to change up the classic royal formula. Deathverse: Let it Die takes things in the weirdest direction you might expect from a sequel to the original Let it Die, giving a hellish death game the aesthetic of a compelling game show . Rumbleverse combines fighting game combos, wrestling clichés, and battle royale gameplay into one action-packed package. And there’s Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, which adds a lot of new to the genre. Instead of the usual miniature large circle, there are sometimes three safe zones within the collapse circle, often resulting in matches that end with three well-equipped surviving teams. And who could forget the addition of helicopters, boats and more vehicles? Epic has also harnessed the power of Unreal Engine 5 to give Fortnite a dramatic visual boost to the battle royale title. If you weren’t sure about trying out this genre before, now is the time to check it out.
2022, the year we fight fear with our friends
The year 2022 sees a major shift in the horror genre. The option of facing fear in the game was no longer transferred to a solo experience with the advent of the asymmetrical horror genre. Dead by Daylight continued to push the genre throughout the year after crossing new frontiers and followed by a number of thrilling additions.
One highlight in particular is Evil Dead: The Game, which brings together what makes this subgenre so great and why its staying power is so powerful. Intricate character development, real scares, and laughs alike make for the sensory experience of playing a match. And the movie franchise it’s set in is certainly the perfect place for all of its top-notch competitive carnage to take place.
Other releases like Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Back 4 Blood, and Resident Evil Re: Verse have shown how different and unique entries in this burgeoning genre can be. All that’s left now is to choose the flavor you like best. Want to pick up Ash William’s iconic Boomstick and chainsaw? Or want to cross the rock stream?
2022, the year Lands Between gives us a break
Video games have always offered a way out of reality to travel into another world and experience things we can only dream of. But what if these games give us time to stop and smell the roses in these realities? Many major games of the year have put this concept at the forefront, most notably Elden Ring.
FromSoftware’s latest epic takes us into the vast open world of The Lands Between and gives us complete control over what to do and when to do it. But between the action and countless deaths, we loosen the reins for Torrent to soak up the atmosphere. This downtime offers many opportunities to reflect on this enchanting journey through these deadly landscapes. Yes, death is certain to be near, but this world will continue to enthrall us with its beautiful countryside and beautiful scenery. Even if a dragon comes to burn you alive, at least it makes you glow in front of the majestic natural scenery, right?
We’ve seen the freedom to roam demonstrated in games throughout the year, like Sonic Frontiers, Stray, Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarök. Each takes place in a vast, dangerous world for you to get completely lost in. And despite the dangers that constantly stand in your way, you always have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty in which they are placed. A welcome invitation allows us to truly appreciate the work and passion the developers put into creating these fantasy worlds.
2022, the year the family reigns supreme
Family ties have crept into many of the game’s best experiences this year. Whether those bonds are from blood, fate or love, numerous titles have shown that there is no better way to get through life than with the people who will always be there for you. Just look at Amicia and Hugo from A Plague Tale: Requiem. These two brothers overcame impossible difficulties to support each other and achieve their goals. Without the other, they wouldn’t have the strength to be the person they needed to be the emotional ending of the game.
The power of this dynamic is also carried over to other games this year. God of War: Ragnarök sees Kratos grow as a father thanks to his son, Phantom Thieves taking on the world as a lost family found in Persona 5: Royal and Joel overcoming trauma in journey with Ellie in The Last of Us Part I. And who can forget the turtle family once again defeated Shredder’s army in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge? In 2022, family easily proves to be one of the game’s best power-ups.
Did you spot any other examples of gaming trends for 2022 mentioned here?
